When God's Plan Isn't Our Plan: Learning to Run Toward the Lord

Brothers and sisters, if you’ve ever felt the tug of a calling—a whisper, a clear prompting, a feeling deep in your spirit—and your first instinct was to run in the opposite direction, you know this feeling. Maybe the assignment feels too big, too inconvenient, or perhaps the people God asks us to minister to are the very ones we find most challenging. It’s natural to want the do-over, to wish for a different assignment, a different time, or maybe just a different destination entirely.

We all want God's will for our lives. We want the clarity, the direction, the *right* path. But what happens when the path God lays out for us seems to lead us into the wilderness, or worse, straight into the deep end? What do we do when God’s plan feels like it’s wrecking our carefully laid plans?

The Book of Jonah is the perfect, messy, deeply human study for this. Most of us know the basic story: God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh. Jonah, understandably, doesn't want to go. He runs. He gets swallowed by a fish. He preaches. Everyone repents, and all is well. It’s a clean, almost storybook ending, right?

But as we dig into the layers—the real, rich, Spirit-filled layers—we realize the main character isn't Jonah, and it certainly isn't the big fish. The main character, friends, is the Lord God. It’s *His* word that comes calling. And sometimes, that word asks us to do something that feels profoundly uncomfortable, something that requires us to swallow our pride and our preferences.

Jonah’s flight—from the East (Nineveh) to the West (Tarsus)—is a masterclass in spiritual resistance. He was running *from* God’s assignment, and the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, provided him with the perfect getaway vehicle: a ship bound for Tarsus. It’s a powerful illustration, isn't it? If you are actively trying to flee from the Spirit, the devil—or our own natural desires—will always find you a vessel to carry you exactly where you don't want to go.

The Lord's Word is Always Speaking

What does this teach us as disciples, whether we are preparing for our own mission, serving in the field, or simply trying to be better neighbors in our own homes? It teaches us that the Word of the Lord is active, persistent, and directional. It doesn't care if we're comfortable. It doesn't care if our plans are more appealing than His. It just *is*.

As we continue to study these principles, remember that the Lord doesn't just *tell* us what to do; He is calling us to be *Christlike* in our response. Being Christlike isn't about never having doubts or running away; it's about recognizing the call, feeling the pull toward disobedience, and then—through the Atonement—choosing to turn back toward the light, no matter how far we've sailed.

Every Member Can Be an Internet Missionary

This principle applies to every one of us in the rogue disciples community. We may not be in the field, but we are disciples anywhere, all the time. If we feel resistant to a challenging conversation in a missionary discussion, or if a scripture passage feels too difficult to grasp in a Bible Study Group, we need to remember Jonah. We need to trust that the Word of the Lord will find us, and that He will direct our steps, even when we’re trying to chart our own course.

If you’re feeling the weight of a difficult assignment, or if you’ve been wrestling with a pattern of avoidance, I encourage you to dive deeper into the scriptures. If you want to explore the nuances of obedience, check out the Book of Jonah through the lens of the LivingBook. For those of us who love digging into the tough questions, Davee is ready to guide you through the *AI Investigator* role, helping you practice answering those hard questions with grace and gospel truth.

Let’s keep building that foundation together. If this message resonated with you, please share it with a fellow disciple. And if you haven't already, join our next virtual gathering—it’s a wonderful time to strengthen our covenants and prepare for the work ahead. Details are in the pinned comments!